Brick finishing machine



July 8, 1941. w. c. WANDROIK ETAL BRICK FINISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1939 4 v 1 76/70 [fr/sow 70 Q 61mm;

July 8, 1941. w. c. WANDROlK 1- rA| 2,248,839

BRICK FINISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1939 M W WW 3 7 MW fl Jlfly 8, 1941. w. c. WANDROIK ETAL BRICK FINISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 22, 1938 Patented July 8, 1941 BRICK FINISHING MACHINE Walter C. Wandroik, Northbrook, and Henry Krisor, Morton Grove, Ill.

Application June 22, 1939, Serial No. 280,638

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a machine for treating or converting a common clay brick column while in a plastic state, into rough texture brick of any desired, preferably colored, semi-face brick.

A prime object is to provide a machine in the nature of an attachment to existing machinery so that the latter may still be used and our improvements employed in addition thereto, at minimum expense.

It is further aimed to provide a construction wherein the brick may be produced inexpensively and expeditiously, and treated according to our invention, by means coacting with the brick while being conveyed from the die.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are fragmentary side elevations selectively showing the machine, adapted to be joined at the lines A-A shown on each;

Figures 3 and 4 are plan views, collectively showing the machine, fragmentarily, being adapted for joining at the lines A-A shown on each;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a transverse detail section showing the discharge portion of one of the hoppers for coloring material;

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of one of the cutting wires, and

Figure 8 is a detail section taken on the plane of line 88 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, Ill designates the die of a brick machine, through which the brick clay, in a plastic state, is expressed in two spaced apart, similar columns ll, rectangular in cross section.

Said columns II are received byand carried from the machine by a suitable endless conveyor l2, at the upper run of the latter. Such columns H as conveyed forwardly, are transferred, through the aid of a bridge l3, to the upper run of a second endless conveyor l4, preferably traveling somewhat faster than the endless conveyor l2. Such conveyors are mounted by a conventional framework l5 and associated parts.

A cutting or severing wheel I 6 is rotatably mounted at H on the framework I5 and it has any desired number of radial arms l8 joined by are transferred from the conveyor l2 to the con- 7 veyor [4, they are penetrated by the wires l9, thus cutting off bricks Ila which are spaced apart on the conveyor l4, due to the difference in speed of travel of the two conveyors.

In accordance with the invention, a supplemental base or frame is provided at 2| over the conveyor l2, supported by the framework I5 and consisting primarily of parallel channel beams 22. A lever 23 is pivoted by means of a rod 24 in bearings 25 on the beams 22 and at the opposite end, has a head 26 carrying any suitable number of roughening or scratching members wires or the like 21 as well shown in Figure 5, which are adapted to roughen or groove one surface of the brick columns II as the latter are conveyed past the same. Preferably four of the scratching elements are provided for each column, although the number may be varied as desired. A plate 28 spans the beams 22 and is fastened thereto, having a bolt 29 screw threaded thereto. Another plate 3!], crosses the lever 23, being fastened thereto and having an opening through which the bolt 29 loosely passes. An expansive spring 3| surrounds bolt 29, abutting plate 30 and the head of the bolt at opposite ends, thereby yieldingly maintaining the scratching elements 21 in lowermost and operative position. The depth of scratching or roughening is variablethrough the adjustment of screw 29, as will be understood.

At each side of the machine, adjacent the roughening elements 2'', guide rollers are provided for the columns I l as at 32, the same preferably having their periphery fleece lined. Such rollers operate in openings 33 of beams 22 and they have vertical shafts 34 journaled in a frame 35, pivoted by a shaft 36 in bearings 31 at the outer side of the beams 22 and positioned through the coaction of a screw 38 passing through a plate 39, such screws preferably having springs associated with them, so that the pressure of the rollers 32 will be yieldable.

After passing the scratching members 21, the columns ll pass under a hopper 40 which contains coloring material preferably in granular or sand form. This material falls by gravity from the hopper fill onto the grooved surfaces of the columns I I (Figure 6) under control of a valve or gate through an outlet 36, the position of such gate or valve being adjustable or variable by latch means at 31 so that the supply may be properly regulated. Rollers 33 are supplied at the sides of the beams 22, operating in openings 39' thereof, and being journaled by means of vertical shafts if) in bearings 4| fastened to the outer sides of the beams 221. The granular material or sand supplied by the hopper at) is in such quantity that it not only covers the grooved surfaces of the columns H but it also overflows and is sufficient to cover all four vertical surfaces of the columns exposed at such point. The rollers 38' serve to press the granular material or sand, which may be of any desired color, into the columns. Since such rollers 38 are tapered as shown, and smaller at their upper ends, they will retain some of the granular material between the same and the outer sides of the columns, aiding in the reception of the latter and the pressing thereof into the columns.

Beyond the hopper 40 and rollers 38, the columns are engaged at their tops or grooved surfaces at their outer sides by surfacing rollers G2 which will restore the faces on the columns engaged to their original dimensions, primarily removing any excess roughness and leaving the columns in condition for burning as a rough texture, semi-face brick. Such rollers 42, having shafts t3 journaled in frames l, pivoted at E5 on the beams and they are spring urged as at 4&3, into engagement with the columns, like the frames 23 and 35. The rollers 32 at the sides, pass through openings 4 1 in the beams.

Beyond the rollers t2, the advancing columns l i, are engaged by the severing means i 6 so that bricks I ia are produced and are conveyed in spaced relation by the conveyor I l, such bricks having their upper surfaces and longitudinal vertical surfaces treated in accordance with the invention. Over the conveyor 54, a hopper i3 is mounted to contain the same granular coloring material or sand as the hopper til which it discharges under appropriate regulation or control into the outlet duct 38 of a blower 5% in which a fan 55 is operated from an electric motor or the equivalent 52, as through the medium of a belt drive 53. The parts mentioned are supported by a framework 5Q, fastened by brackets 55 to the framework t5. Duct G9 has an outlet nozzle 56 of a size wider and longer than the distances between the ends of the bricks I la so that the coloring material as shown in Figure 2, will be effectively blown in such quantity and area as to cover the ends of the bricks I la. In addition, attention is called to the fact that the material blown through the nozzle 58 has the action of a sand blast which not only roughens the ends of the bricks Ila. but all of the surfaces exposed, that is, all except the lower surfaces engaged with the conveyor i4. Following this treatment, the bricks I la are removed from the conveyor M and .dired in the manner conventional in the art.

The elements or wires l9 are equipped with barbs in the form of rings or enlargements at I do, preferably being lined with the scratch members or pins 27 so that simultaneously with the severing of the bricks Ila, their ends will be grooved, roughened or the like like the upper surfaces of the bricks, the grooves on such ends being aligned and similar in number to the grooves onthe upper surfaces.

The peripheries of rollers 32 and 38 are preferably fleece lined while those of rollers 42 are hard or metallic, for instance of brass.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of parallel, horizontally disposed beams between which a column of plastic material is adapted to pass, a substantially horizontally disposed lever positioned at the tops of the beams, means securing said lever to the tops of the beams for pivotal movement, roughening elements carried by the lever adjacent one end thereof and operable in the space between the beams to engage the column, a plate disposed across the top of the beams between the fulcrum of the lever and said elements, a screw passing loosely through the lever and threaded to the plate, and a spring surrounding the screw and bearing on the upper surface of the lever for urging the elements downwardly, said beams having openings therethrough, levers pivoted to the outer sides of the beams, surfacing rollers carried by the second-mentioned levers and positioned in-the openings for engagement with the column, and spring means associated with the secondmentioned levers for urging said rollers into engagement with said column.

' WALTER C. WANDROIK.

HENRY KRISOR. 

